Colapinto encounters an uncomfortable comparison to Zandvoort.
"What is it that I truly want? I have no idea!"
Franco Colapinto acknowledges his difficult situation at Zandvoort, as Alpine has allocated its only significant upgrade package to Pierre Gasly. The update was initially intended for both cars at Monza, but Alpine decided to advance one package due to promising results in the simulator, leaving Colapinto to use the older specification for another weekend.
“Yesterday, I was pondering the same question,” Colapinto commented when asked by reporters at Zandvoort. “I kept asking myself, ‘What is it that I truly want? I don’t know.’”
The dilemma is clear – staying competitive with Gasly would reflect well on Colapinto, but a significant performance gap would indicate the upgrade is effective. “In the simulator, it appears to be very strong, and if that is indeed the case, it will be very beneficial for us,” the Argentine stated. “It’s true that the larger the downforce difference between the two cars, the more favorable it will be for us. However, if it functions perfectly, it may lead to a somewhat challenging weekend for me.”
However, Colapinto emphasizes that the top priority is to validate the package before it becomes available for his car at Monza. “The factory has put in a tremendous effort,” he noted. “This upgrade was initially scheduled for Monza and both cars, but it arrived here sooner than anticipated, which is already a positive development.”
“Regrettably, it’s only available for one car, but hopefully it performs well and allows us to compete higher up the grid as the season progresses.”
Alpine is in desperate need of this advancement after losing ground to Racing Bulls in the midfield competition, and Colapinto also sees a chance with Yuki Tsunoda’s temporary return to racing. “As a team, we always need to capitalize on opportunities, especially when such chances don’t come often,” he remarked. “If this allows us to score additional points and return to the top 10, then we will strive to make the most of it and seize the opportunity.”
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